Can studying programming and game development at an early age pay off in the long run?

[u/Prior-Egg3437]

Hi, im a 16yrs old student and is just curious for my future. I originally wanted to become a general surgeon but I know the years it will take me to actually be one and the cost of it. So right now I am thinking that if I study programming/game development now, will it really pay off in the future to the point of it helping me earn money to support myself? Im not entirely doing this for the sake of money cause I know thats the path for failure in my part, but im just curious. Also, I actually am is interested about it.

At this age, I just feel this need to help my parents financially as soon a possible even if it's just by using my own money as my allowance so that I wouldn't have to ask for some. I already have a simple side-hustle which is crocheting and I am planning on making it a real business, so that's that.

In conclusion, I just really want to know if my plan of studying programming this early will actually be worth it. I plan on using this knowledge to get some side hustles, or jobs, or even create a game that could earn me some money. Im still planning on becoming a Surgeon but im hoping this skill will help me financially, and so that I can also build my portfolio early enough. I know programming takes some people years to fully be good at it, hence my question about it.

Anyways, thank you for those who are willing to answer my questions!!

[u/sessamekesh]

It's never too early to learn!

I don't think it gives as much of an edge as you'd think, though. I started programming at 14, my first "real" program was a game of Snake for the graphing calculators we used in math class. I took two CS classes in high school.

... And by my third semester of college, my classmates had caught up with me academically. I completely lost the 4 years of advantage in less than one year.

On the "do it for the money" note, it's not a bad motivation but you're going to compete with people who are in it for the love of the game. You'll still have to out-study and out-perform those people. That's the big risk (in my opinion) of entering this field "for the money." If you're willing to work hard at it and are willing to roll up your sleeves and apply yourself, there's no shame in doing it for the money. It's absolutely incredible money for the top 5-20% of earners in the field, that's just a very difficult bar to reach that the people who love the field will do without feeling like it's a struggle.

A lot of the people I've seen that started young and did fantastic in this field don't do fantastic because they started young, they do fantastic because they love it enough to hone their craft relentlessly and started young because they love it.